Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Sunday morning. As is, of course. Unless there’s something that just shouldn’t be in a photo, I usually leave things the way they are in real life.

Still feeling a bit under the weather, so I’ve been taking it easy, though I did rouse myself enough yesterday to finish the wood floor in the dollhouse. I haven’t checked on it today, so I’ll take a photo of it for tomorrow’s post. I have two heavy books sitting it to make sure it dries flat.

The two wind events we had earlier in the week have left a lot of the trees in the woods bare. Don took a walk the other day and was depressed by the lack of green. No green canopy, just downed leaves. He put so much work into those paths and the creation of another kind of world, an escape. Seeing it all laid bare was sad. I haven’t walked through the woods yet and now I’m deliberately holding off because I know I will also get depressed.

Too fast. This autumn is moving along much too quickly. In the meantime, we wait and wait to vote. We wait and wait for November 3rd. It’s too much. I don’t want the season to go too quickly but I want to vote and have the election over. I guess you can’t have it both ways.

We had a chat with Little Z yesterday, though he was restless and soon took off for other adventures. I did get to talk to my beloved sister, though. I miss her so much. We’d give anything to hug each other right now.

I’m on page 250 of a 900+ page book and I’m really enjoying it. Don bought 100 Years of Solitude  yesterday and read a chunk of it outside on the funky patio. We both love magical realism and that book represents the pinnacle of the genre. For some reason – though I know I had a copy at one point – I’ve never read it. So it’s next on my TBR list.

Okay friends. I have to make our second cup of coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

One day flows into another. It’s Saturday, right? We have a madman in the Oval Office. COVID is surging once again. The election seems months away, yet it isn’t.

We’ve gone back to The Great British Baking Show. We watched several seasons a few years ago. Then we stopped watching for a while. Every once in a while I would suggest it, but Don wasn’t in the mood for it. Recently, he rethought that. So, we’re back. I love that show and it’s just the antidote to all the insanity being spewed at us every day. We’re still watching Frasier, as well, but we’re nearly to the final season, so we’re dragging it out a little.

Sad news: Broadway shows/performances remain suspended through May 30, 2021.

This is devastating to the performing arts. Just devastating. If everything starts back on June 1 (and that’s doubtful) Broadway will have been closed for 16 months. That has never happened before. So many people out of work, so many shows that will not survive this and will never reopen. So many restaurants impacted. So many businesses. Careers halted. Will agents survive this? Will producers?

And this is a harbinger for off-Broadway and regional theater, as well.

It’s heartbreaking. I can’t even write about it, it’s so upsetting.

We may rake leaves today, but I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather. Wind events seem to screw up my sinuses and we had two days of that this week. So I’m feeling rather foggy and out-of-it.

But it’s beautiful out there today and it’s going to be in the seventies. So, we may take a little drive and enjoy the fall color.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

First of all, to Michigan, the state where I was born and lived for 30 years: I’m sickened that these terrorists were plotting to kidnap and harm the Governor. I’m so sorry you have these people in your midst. Make no mistake, they were urged on by the Orange Man. He incited this behavior.

There are no words.

Thank God Gretchen Whitmer is safe.

Now. In an abrupt change of direction, let’s go to the world of miniatures. I want to share some of the miniature books I ordered – they arrived yesterday.

These are from Sarah, who has a shop called Landau House on Etsy.

Through the Looking Glass, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and 8 King Penguins, all of them centering on a certain topic; spiders, flowers, ballet, the Crown Jewels, the sea.

Poetry, Lyrics, Little Lord Fauntleroy, etc.

Shakespeare. (Of course I ordered these!)

And a gift, included with the order:

Beauty and the Beast, with illustrations by Walter Crane.

Inside:

All of the books have turnable pages, but this one has text and illustrations on the inside as well. The spines are wonderfully executed, something I don’t always see in mini books. Some include bookmarks. Sarah’s work is truly excellent and I will definitely be buying from her again. The shelves in Dove Cottage need to be filled, as well as the shelves in the Lake House.

I could make books, and I have, but I know my strengths and this is not one of them.

She has some French Art Nouveau books that I have to have! I’m ordering them today.

Of course, after I took the photos, I immediately placed them on the shelf unit. I just had to see them there.

I’m so excited! There’s an endless amount that has to be done to this structure before it’s ‘finished,’ but seeing this downstairs room take shape makes me very happy.

I get so excited at the thought of filling all those drawers.

By the way, I put those beams in the ceiling for two reasons. First, I love that period English cottage look. But most importantly, I removed the stairs that had been supporting the second floor. I needed some other source of support. The beams are doing that.

Okay, my friends. It’s a beautiful day. I got some sleep. I’m going to work on said dollhouse this afternoon and make a list of supplies I need to order.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.